Instacart Shares Surge 14% on Strong Earnings as CEO Downplays Grocery Delivery Competition

Instacart CEO says concerns over mounting competitive pressures are "overblown" as the company reports robust Q4 results.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Instacart's stock jumped more than 14% after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue and strong growth in gross transaction value. CEO Chris Rogers, who took over last year, dismissed concerns over increasing competition in the grocery delivery market from companies like Amazon, Uber Eats, and DoorDash, saying the company feels good about its differentiation and points of competitive advantage.

Why it matters

Instacart has faced growing pressure from major players like Amazon and food delivery platforms that have been aggressively expanding into grocery delivery. However, Instacart's robust earnings results and optimistic outlook have helped allay fears about the company's ability to fend off these competitive threats.

The details

Instacart reported fourth-quarter revenue that beat Wall Street estimates, with gross transaction value growing 14% - its strongest quarterly growth in three years. The company also issued an optimistic forecast, projecting gross transaction value in the range of $10.13 billion to $10.28 billion, compared to a $9.97 billion estimate. Instacart expects adjusted EBITDA between $280 million and $290 million, versus $277 million expected.

  • Instacart reported its Q4 2025 earnings on February 13, 2026.

The players

Chris Rogers

The CEO of Instacart who took over the role last year.

Instacart

An American grocery delivery and pick-up service that partners with retailers and delivers from grocery stores, pharmacies, and pet food suppliers.

Amazon

The e-commerce giant that has been expanding its grocery delivery services.

Uber Eats

The food delivery platform owned by Uber that has been scaling up its grocery delivery offerings.

DoorDash

The food delivery service that has also been growing its presence in the grocery delivery market.

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What they’re saying

“The concerns are overblown and we monitor threats extremely closely.”

— Chris Rogers, CEO (CNBC)

What’s next

Instacart is expected to continue investing in new technology and AI tools to drive more customers and businesses to its platform as it faces increasing competition in the grocery delivery market.

The takeaway

Instacart's strong earnings results and the CEO's confident outlook have helped alleviate concerns about the company's ability to compete with major players like Amazon, Uber Eats, and DoorDash that have been aggressively expanding into grocery delivery. The company's focus on technology and differentiation appears to be paying off so far.